@PsyGuy

Thanks for the clarifications on Utah and MA.

However, route G for the HI standard license says "1. National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) evaluation of your foreign transcript which shows you completed a teacher preparation program". So I still need to complete a EPP out of the US, right?

@PsyGuy

More questions on licensure:
Utah's initial license is the ARL route, which lasts 3 years, but it says I need to teach in Utah. It also seems ARL is a program not a license. Is it really possible to use this as a license when applying to the Hawaii license?
http://www.schools.utah.gov/cert/Altern ... nsure.aspx

Massachusett's preliminary license seems to be the one I can get, but is 5 years max with no renewal.
http://www.mass.gov/edu/government/depa ... ents-.html

So the plan is to get the Massachusett's preliminary license, work 3 years out of the last 5 years, and apply for the standard Hawaii license through D? But the description says, "Stage 3 Teacher License means a license issued to an individual who holds a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, has completed a State Approved Teacher Education Program", so ultimately, chances are I may have to take an EPP anyway?
http://www.htsb.org/licensing-permits/l ... -overview/


Like so many things in the US, this is very confusing.

I've been working in a Shanghai school and had a very similar problem just this past winter. Long story short, force the pay at least 3 weeks before you leave or on the last day of school. Teachers get paid for the 8 or 9 months they work throughout the year: You should not have to wait throughout the summer when you have officially finished working.


Practically, it is very difficult to get money out of China on many different levels, especially if you are abroad.
1. China has a very small limit (like $500 a day) on currency EXCHANGES, unless a Chinese person does it for you in their name (technically illegal) or unless you have all the employment, tax pay, passport and etc documents. This applies to all banks in China as far as I know. Obviously, this is only possible if either you or your trusty Chinese friend is in China.
Once you make the currency exchange, you may be able to use internet banking to send money out of China. However, Chinese banks, especially those that do not deal with foreigners often, do not know their job well and can give midleading answers (ask several times to different branches and customer service). Things can go wrong which is why I recommend you get your money at least 3 weeks before you leave China.

2. Once you have your currency in dollars, you are much better off than before, but this can still cause problems if the money is in China. First, you need to have the wire transfer fee in rmb in your account (at least for ICBC). Second, you need to know how to use internet banking, which can be confusing, because the English internet banking pages are not necessarily well translated. It took me over 6 weeks to get a reply from the bank to figure out why I couldn't succeed in using internet banking and I still have about 1500rmb in China which I just gave up on.

3. If you go out of China, it is unlikely that your Chinese phone service will be available. As WinterFerret said, some transactions may require you to input a code that comes to your Chinese phone. You obviously won't be able to get that code if you are out of China.


I got all my sum like 4 days after the last day of school, 3 weeks before I left China. It was enough time IF everything went smoothly, but it did not. If a problem occurs, 1 week will pass by very quickly as transfers take several days and only happen during business days, which is why I recommend you try to get everything early before you leave.
If your target currency is dollars, you'll have more options and less risk. But if you are unlucky, you will have to go back to China, at which point you will need a new tourist visa and probably won't have anyone to give you documents or help you out.

@Thames Pirate
I agree with you (with limited experience), although it does depend a lot on school, district and state. For example, teachers at schools I had practicum in did not work especially longer than what I read here. Conversely, I heard stories of teachers having no time to go to the bathroom.

What I also heard and read was that US private schools in general involved less work and less pay than public schools. I just needed to know how much that work actually is for International schools.

@expatscot
I can believe that. I knew public schools in the US required a lot of work and I guess it's similar in international schools.

@psyguy
I see. I would really have to think carefully about renouncing my US citizenship (thanks for pointing out misuse).
I've thought about ESOL and private academies. I was put off by evening shifts but I guess no job is perfect and everything has pros and cons. I will consider that route as well as.

Thanks both for honest opinions and information.

Hi,

I've asked a similar question before but some circumstances have changed so I would like to ask again. I do not have licensure and am thinking about getting one.

My current situation is:
- Masters in secondary science ed from US college
- practicum experience
- no EPP (to be exact, I failed the final writeup)
- 1.5 yrs physics/math teacher in a Chinese/American partnership school
- unemployed

I am guessing my best strategy is to get the Utah/Massachusetts initial licenses, get more experience, and transfer it to the standard Hawai license. Does this seem like a good plan?
I have looked up Teach Now and Teacher Ready, but these seem too long and expensive. Especially since I already spent a lot of money on my education.



My next problem is more personal and about being an international teacher in general. I'm still young so it may sound stupid.
I am in an uncomfortable position in which all of my family and lasting friends are in Korea but I am a US citizen undergone a US education. In other words, I want to live in Korea but that's not easy.
I like teaching and my previous students liked me but I am not very robust and have a very difficult time working long hours (i.e. longer than 9 hours a day). I realize that I may have to work longer the first year after I get employed again, but I fear I may have to work like that throughout my career from what I read. Also, I volunteer a small amount of time if students ask but detest pressured volunteering otherwise.
Personally, I am not very confident I can live as an IT in Korea.


So to sum it up:
1. Is my plan for licensure okay?
2. Do you think I can be successful as an IT in Korea? I realize this question is very subjective but I want to hear honest opinions from current international teachers; college only gave optimistic feedback.
3. If I can't get employed this year, I am thinking of applying for Korean citizenship. However, this would likely entail 2 years of military service and revoking my US citizenship. How would this affect my licensure plan and chances of getting a job in international schools?


I really appreciate the information and contribution in this forum.
Thanks in advance for any opinions you give.

@PsyGuy
Thanks for all the help PsyGuy.
It seems like I still have a long way to go but I will start on the process.


Meanwhile, If anyone has additional opinions or advice, I would greatly appreciate your input. Second, third, fourth opinions are always valuable. Thanks all for reading.

@PsyGuy

Thanks for the long and detailed response.

Responses to your questions:
1) Yes, I completed the educator preparation program (EPP) at gradschool and also did student teaching through it. I have also successfully received an MEd and thus have fully completed the program.
I only lack the teaching license because I was not able to pass the assessment and had no further chance of redoing it.


2) No, I am completely happy with taking the PRAXIS exams. In fact, I have already passed the Biology Praxis II 2 years ago (degree requirement) and am also thinking of taking physics and math if that would be beneficial for me. Plus, I guess they offer the test in China and Korea so it would relatively easy and cheap for me to take these tests.

The assessment I would need to retake in TN is called the EdTPA. It requires me to teach the same class for 2 weeks in a secondary school, obtain parental consent for video taping, video tape my lessons and write something like a 10 or 20 page - with video editing to show how I taught according to the requirements of the assessment. If I do not pass, I need to repeat the whole process again.


3) (For staying/leaving my current job)
If I left early, I was planning on just helping mum with her pharmacy in Korea (she works a lot and would appreciate the help). This would be assuming I could get some sort of job for the 2017 school year though.
But based on your advice, it seems like its better to stay.



More Questions:
1. So that means my best choices for licensure would be DC, NJ, UT, or CT. I thought CA also required an EPP in CA if I was not transfering licenses from a different state.
If I were to eventually aim for the golden CA Clear license, what route would be the best?

2. My universities are not quite Ivy... although they got me my current job. These are Northwestern and Vanderbilt (Probably gave myself away by now). If you know either of these, are they still marketable?

3. The school I am at now is most probably third tier but is partnered with a pretty reputable American School, although this partnership is very new. Whether the teaching experience is accepted as valid depends on an employer by employer basis, correct?


PsyGuy, I think I will follow your suggestions and start looking for a job through the routes you mentioned (after researching what exactly the license requirements are for). Even if I get a low tier school, I would likely enjoy Korea more than China. Japan does not seem likely so I won't keep my hopes high.
Thanks again.

Hi.
I'm a newbie US teacher who's been aiming for international teaching (IT) in Korea or Japan since I studied education. However, my university did not have much knowledge on IT and have actually given me conflicting info from the info in the net. I am in quite of a fit and would be grateful if I could get some advice.

My current situation:
(take rankings with a grain of salt)
- BA from top 10 university in the US, double major in biology and integrated science.
(This means I have multiple coursework in math, physics, biology and chemistry)
- MEd from top 3 education university in the US, secondary science education
(Full time student teaching for 1/2 year)
- No teaching license
- 1 year experience teaching physics & math in my current school in China. These are classes taught in English only.
(China Domestic School (DS) partnership with US DS school)
(will become 2 years at the end of this year)


Question 1: Will I be able to get a IT job in Korea or Japan for 2017?
I have no teaching license. Professors and teachers in the US would tell me that this is not a problem when getting a job in private schools. Apparently... that does not seem to be the case.
I am quite proud of my academic achievements and I realize that science and math are a high needs area. But I have no teaching license, have little teaching experience and apparently I am late in job searching. Would I still be able to get a IT job in Korea or Japan?


Question 2: What would be the best way for me to get a teaching license?
I realize I should have done this earlier but at least I should start now. I have read that the CA license is best but it does not seem I can get that now. Would the Florida route be the best choice? This is the part that is most confusing and stressful for me...
Getting a teaching license from the original state (TN) of grad school is not an option. I need to repeat an assessment that is very demanding in time, mind and effort to complete.


Question 3: I really do not like my current school. Should I still stick to the end?
The school does not keep its promises on work according to the Chinese labor law and my contract. So I feel I have a good reason to leave. I have also added a clause in my contract that says I can leave at the end of the 1st semester with 1 month prior notice to prepare for this (because last year was worse).
However, overall the work load is not that bad this year... probably. So if it really matters for my future, I could try staying.
I have very little experience on school expectations and environments since this is my first secondary education job so I would probably ask for help on this through a separate topic.


I'd be really grateful for everyone who can share their opinion/knowledge on these questions.
Also, please tell me if I'd written anything inappropriate.
Thanks.